Inkwell



Sept. 3, 1940. s. M. GAY 2,213,465

INKWELL Filed Dec. 29. 1939 SAMUEL. M GA Y arty/"M 6 Patented Sept. 3, 1940 I 4 2,213,465

-UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Samuel M. Gay, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Application December 29, 1939, Serial No. 311,443

4 Claims. (01. 120-68) The present invention relates to inkwells and the edge of the container I for a purpose to be the like and more particularly to an ever-ready hereinafter explained. The gasket 5 should be inkwell having a seal to prevent evaporation of some gasket material such as fiber and reand a construction to prevent spilling of the sistant to ink or whatever writing liquid is dis- 5 sink should the inkwell be accidentally overp e in h container 5 turned. The cap 2 'is provided with a central opening Ever-ready inkwells having arrangements to 6 and is outlined by a depe d flange 1 Which prevent evaporation of the ink and spilling upon preferab y is Conical for the P p of e y accidental over-turning have broadly been ui in a p n r other wri instrument n known for a long time. Such arrangements the container I. Supported beneath and around 10 usually consist of a pliable closure having rathe opening 5 is a Closure member 3 Which is dially projecting slits for permitting the insercup-shaped in form andis of some pliable mation of the pen into the ink. However, with terial such as soft rubber. At the bottom of such devices, in use a small amount of ink w the closure member 8 is a central relatively thin ally collected on the top of the closure and when and pliable portion 9 p v With a p al ty 15 the inkwell accidentally over-turned, this ink of splits Ill radiating from a central point. The on the top of the closure was spilled. The presp p of the pliable Portion 9 and its splits ent invention contemplates structure so arranged it s to permit the insertion f a p or other as to catch this small amount of ink and therewriting instrument into the container I and go fore to prevent its spilling. at the same time when the pen is withdrawn An object of the present invention is to profrom the container I to seal the interior of the vide an inkwell or the like having a pliable split container aga nst C culation of air from the closure member and a downwardly opening atmosphere which would cause evaporation and chamber surrounding the inkwell opening and against outflow of ink from the container I in 3;, above the closure member to catch any ink that t e event that it is cidentally over-turned. might be on top of the closure member wh The sealing of the container I against accidenthe inkwell is accidentally over-turned. tal outflow of ink in the event of accidental over- Another object of the invention is to provide turning is materially assisted y the fact hat a removable rubber closure member which is the pliab e portion 9 is conical With the p of supported on a gasket held between the ink e cone p n inwardly s t pr ssure of 5 container and its cap. ink from Within the container I tends to force These and other objects will be apparent from the edges of the splits et er and to inthe following specification when taken with the rease he s lin It will be understood that accompanying drawing in which; the pliable portion 9 would have the same seal- Fig. 1 is a section on the line I 1 of Fi 3, ing action should it be concave-convex in con- Fig. 2 is a perspective of an inkwell according figuration and Such a form is contemplated to to the present invention, and I be within the scope of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of an inkwell according The sealing member 3 is provided at its uppe to the present invention. edge with a bead II which is so related to the 40 Referring particularly to the drawing, the gasket 5 that the body of the sealing member 8 reference character I indicates a liquid conpasses through the Central Opening in e a et tainer which preferably is of transparent glass, 5 and the bead ll rests on e p ace of the but which may be made of any suitable and dega ket 5. It ould be observed that the desired material. The container l has a Wide pending flange I surrounding the central openmouth at the top thereof and is covered with a ing 6 of the cap 2 is spaced radially inwardly cap 2 which, as shown, is made of molded hard from the sides of the cup-shaped closure memrubber, although other materials, such as phenol her 8 in such a manner as to provide around the formaldehyde condensation products or the like depending flange portion 7 an encompassing may be employed. Male threads 3 on th co chamber or channel I2 which has an open bot- G tainer I and corresponding female threads 4 tom communicating with t sp immediately on the cap 2 provide a suitable means for efabove the flexible portion 9 of the closure memfecting aconnection between the container I and her 8- us s ould the Container I be accithe cap 2. Disposed between the container I dentally overturned, any ink that might have and the cap 2 is a gasket 5 having a central openbeen transferred past the splits II) of the pliable 5 ing the edge of which is disposed inwardly from portion 9 during continued use of the inkwell, 5;;

onto the top side of the closure member 8 will be caught in the chamber 12. For the purpose of raisingthe lowermost extremity of the closure member 8 to as high a level as possible thus making possible the placing of a maximum amount of ink in the container l, the cap 2 is provided with a raised portion l3 surrounding the opening 6 for receiving the bead ii. The portion it also improves the general appearance of the inkwell as a whole-byjbreaking what would otherwise be a flat top; 5

It should be understood that While the invention has been described as: applied to an inkwell, it may equally well be applied to other similar containers having equivalent uses.

Having thus described my invention what I said cup, said gasket having an annular portion disposed inwardly from said container, a bead around the upper edge of said cup, said gasket having a central opening through which said cup projects, said opening being defined by said annular portion, said bead resting on the top of said annular portion of said gasket, said closure having a-pliable split portion to permit the entrance of an instrument into said container, said cap clamping said gasket against said container and independently holding said head against said gasket.

2. A device of the character described comprising a liquid container having an open top, a detachable cap therefor having a central opening, a depending flange outlining said opening, a closure for said opening, said closure being in the formof acup into which said flange projects, the bottom and outside of said flange being spaced from said cup, said flange and cup providing an open bottomed chamber surrounding said flange, a gasket between the top of said container and said cup, said gasket having an annular portion disposed inwardly from said container, a bead around the upper edge of said cupshaped closure, said gasket a central opening through which said cup-shaped closure projects, said opening being defined by said annular portion,'said bead resting on the top of said annularportion of said gasket, said closure having a pliable split portion beneath said opening for permitting the entrance of an instrument into said container, said cap clamping said gasket against said container and independently holding said bead against said gasket.

3. A device of the character described comprising a liquid container having an open top, a detachable cap therefor having a central opening, a depending flange outlining said opening, a closure ior said opening, said closure being in the form of a cup into which said flange projects, the bottom and outside of said flange being spaced from said cup, said flange and cup providing an open bottomed chamber surrounding said flange, a gasket between the top of said container and said cup, said gasket having an annular portion disposed inwardly from said container, a bead around the upper edge of said cup, said gasket 4. A device of the characterdescribed comprising aliquid container having an open top, a detachable cap therefor having a central opening, a depending flange outlining said opening, a 'closure for said opening, said closure being in the form of a cup into which said flange projects, a gasket between the top of said container and said cup, said gasket having a central opening and projecting inwardly beyond the edge of said container, a bead around the upper edge of said cup, said cup projecting through said opening and said bead resting on the upper face of said gasket, said cap having an upwardly extending portion surrounding said opening, and receiving said head, said depending flange and upwardly-extending portion forming a downwardly facing channel surrounding said opening, saidbead being disposed in said channel, the bottom and outside of said flange being spaced from said cup, said flange and said cup providing an open bottomed chamber surrounding said flange, said closure having a pliable split portion beneath said opening for permitting the entranceof an instrument into said container. 7

' SAMUEL M. GAY. 

